RIVERSIDE — Democrats of Greater Riverside (DGR), United Democrats of Moreno Valley, Riverside County Young Democrats and Inland Counties Stonewall Democrats recently announced their support of Mark Takano’s campaign for Congress.
Although prohibited by county party rules from making official endorsements, all four clubs will recommend that the California Democratic Party endorse Takano. The state party will make an official endorsement during its pre-endorsement conference meeting in January or annual convention in February.
“Mark Takano has been a local Democratic officeholder for over two decades and he understands the values and priorities of our party,” said Bob Melsh, former Riverside County Democratic Party chair and DGR president-elect. “Mark was a proud and visible Democrat when it was unpopular to be a Democrat in Riverside and our club looks forward to playing an active role in his campaign for Congress.”
“Moreno Valley needs a Democrat in Congress that will fight for family wage jobs, improve local air quality, expand healthcare accessibility and find common-sense solutions to the serious issues facing our country,” said United Democrats of Moreno Valley President Chris Baca. “I can’t think of a better candidate for Congress than Mark Takano and we are excited to be supporting his campaign.”
“President Obama won this newly created district by 20 percent in 2008 thanks to the growing strength of our party in Riverside County,” said Riverside County Young Democrats President Scott Talkov. “In 2012, the Riverside County Young Democrats will be focusing a lot of effort on getting Mark elected to Congress to help President Obama continue to bring about the change our county needs.”
A lifelong resident of Riverside, Takano was elected to the Riverside Community College District Board of Trustees in 1990 and won re-election in 1995, 1999, 2004 and 2008. He is the longest-serving current board member and one of the longest-serving Democratic elected officials in Riverside County.
As a trustee he has championed reform of secondary education, emphasizing early college high schools and more opportunities for career and technical education. Takano has worked as a classroom teacher in the Rialto Unified School District for the past 23 years.
The newly created 41st Congressional District includes the cities of Riverside, Moreno Valley, Perris and Jurupa Valley. The district has a 7 percent voter registration advantage for Democrats. Obama carried the district by a 20 percent margin in 2008 and Gov. Jerry Brown won the district by 12 percent in 2010.